British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
